Happy New Year!

This is how we ring in the New Year. We may just be laying around, watching Go, Diego, Go! but, at least, it involves snuggling. Bring on 2009!

More snow pics

Back in Phoenix now, here are the last of our snow pics from Flagstaff.
Satvinder all bundled up.

We went to a popular sledding area. Sign said "Not a snow play area". A whole lot of sledding families disagreed.

Mangala Sadhu Sangeet Singh and Satvinder coming up the hill after a sled ride.

Someone left a car bumper near the sledding area - Mangala Sadhu Sangeet Singh made use of it...

in various ways.


Bikes in the snow at Northern Arizona University

Merry, White Christmas

Happy Christmas! I hope everyone is enjoying the spirit of giving from the heart - whether that be through presents, smiles, or love. In the challenges of these times, it may seem extra hard to reach out and to share. May we live kindly and help each other in our own ways. Love to all.
Satvinder opening her present from Santa, the popular representative of giving from the heart.

How awesome that Santa knew that she loves Bobbleheads(also known as "Littlest Pet Shop") - they are little bodied critters with big heads.

Mangala Sadhu Sangeet Singh made this picture of Satvinder as a Bobblehead!

Satvinder in the green house, getting ready for snow play


Mangala Sadhu Sangeet Singh dug this hole in a big mountain of snow - just the right size for a little Pinky.


Satvinder's Dadaji and Rufus met up with us at the sledding hill. We like Rufus' special leg warmers that Nonni made for him.

Family snow pic!

Happy girl in the snow

Snow! Whee!

We are in Flagstaff, enjoying the plentiful snow. Rufus got to go sledding with Satvinder and Mangala Sadhu Sangeet Singh...eventhough he didn't particularly want to.

Happy Christmas Eve!

So sad....yet so funny

Satvinder got this Littlest Petshop pony (which she named "Lips") from her friends, Sat Darshan and Nirankaar. The pony comes with a special code that you can enter at the Littlest Petshop's website to "bring your cuddly Virtual Interactive Pet (VIP) to life in the virtual VIPs World!" - you can play games, I guess, with an online version of your pet.

Satvinder was REALLY excited to go to the website. She hopped and bounced and begged and pleaded PLEASE NOW NOW NOW NOW can we do it NOW. Please now.

So finally we did it and she was all smiles, getting on the website, clickety click, with Lips the pony by her side.

THEN...
She came into my office with a big frown and THREW Lips the pony on the ground. "They were WRONG!!!" she yelled. It was then that I realized that all the excitement had been because she thought this process would bring Lips the pony "to life" ...for real.

OH. Right. Kids takes things LITERALLY.

She's made her peace with the non-living Lips - back to loving Lips for what he is. Back to wondering why the adult world can't just say what we mean and mean what we say.

Makin' Stuff

We're staying busy making things - got to keep those mischief hands busy.
Moms and kids making gingerbread things - a gingerbread house and gingerbread train.

The kids may have eaten almost as much candy as they used for decorating. We tried telling them that it wasn't edible candy but they did not believe us.

Today Satvinder and I have been making pies and food and ornaments and pictures. And GLITTER is everywhere.

That girl's just crazy about peace.

Mother's Blessing & The Winter Solstice

Last night we had a nice little party at our house, in honor of the Winter Solstice and the 120th day of pregnancy for my friend, Har Kaur. In yogic tradition, it is believed that around the 120th day is when the soul enters its body in the mother's womb. It is a time to gather and surround the mother with love, blessings, and support as she is the creative vessel for new life.

The Guest of Honor and her son, big brother-to-be, Ananda

Mediterranean potluck feast

The Henna Table - decorating body parts with plant-based dye that lasts a week or so

I got to decorate the pregnant belly!

The children, of course, wanted to paint with henna too. Nirmal gave her feet to the cause. Yeah...it was pretty gross. But the kids got to paint big, smeary blobs and had fun.

Singing Children

Annual Holiday Performance

Satvinder's school gave their annual holiday performance the other night. The children sing songs or do dances while the parents laugh and clap for their amazing and charming children.
Satvinder seated (sort of) with her classmates before the big performance

Up on stage and enjoying the spotlight

Making Cookies with Ananda

We made gingerbread cookies with our friends Har Kaur and Ananda. In between negotiations and the eating of cookie dough, we cut out and baked a bunch of cookies.

What more is there to say?

By Satvinder

Flu version of Favorite Things

Satvinder and I have been battling the flu (or whatever this is) for over a week. That and the Sound of Music have inspired us to break out in raspy-voiced song, creating the Flu Version of Favorite Things:

Legos and bobbleheads and Charlie and Lola
Herbs and pajamas and subs for my yoga
Internet stories and phones that don't ring
these are a few of our favorite things

Blaring space heater and piles of covers
Vampire novels or my friends, the bloggers
handy, soft tissues and Vitamin C
these are a few of our favorite things

Napping Satvinder and working through emails
soaking in warm baths and no voice for loud yells
cough drops, and kitcheri and brewing some tea
these are a few of our favorite things

When the cough bites
when the sneeze stings
when we're feeling sad
We simply remember our favorite things
and then we don't feel
so bad

Santa Visit

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,
I was hoping for a surprise. I like My Little Ponies, princess stuff, animals, monkeys, and my favorite animal is a pig when it is a baby.

How do you get all the toys to the kids?

I know that last year you gave me the Dora and Chico car that is yellow and blue. I have it in my car basket.

I like Christmas. Also, my friend, Nirankaar, likes red, which is a Christmas color.

From,
Satvinder